Neil McCann was left raging following Celtic’s stoppage time winner at Rugby Park yesterday afternoon. Icing on the cake of a perfect Premiership day for the Champions…
The Killie manager questioned Duncan Nicolson’s decision to add on seven minutes, insisting officials now appear to “make it up these days.”
An added time winner from Julian Araujo, virtually the final action of the game, sealed victory for the champions and left McCann furious as he reflected on the result.
Speaking via Daily Record, McCann said: “I’m angry, of course I am. I’m so disappointed because I truly believe that we deserved something from the game. I’m not quite sure where they get seven minutes from. They seem to just make that up these days. But, nonetheless, we still have to manage that and that’s what I’m most angry about.”
🗣️ “A real sore one. I don’t think we deserve to lose that game.”
Neil McCann reflects on Kilmarnock’s 3-2 loss to Celtic ⤵️ pic.twitter.com/vpMjHcOqMF
— Sky Sports Scotland (@ScotlandSky) February 15, 2026
“I’d have been disappointed coming off with a point, to be honest. But the anger comes from not seeing that out and getting at least a point. Clearly Celtic are going to come at us in the second half. It’s taken a bit of brilliance from [Sebastian] Tounekti to get them back into the game. The second goal, I mean it’s so disappointing.”
“We lost three goals against St Mirren where it was just second balls bouncing in the box and we didn’t deal with it. But the last one is the sorest, clearly, because it’s right at the end of the game and there’s a minute left.”
When asked whether he had raised the issue with referee Duncan Nicolson or his assistants, McCann responded: “It’s a waste of time talking to him and asking him where it comes from. As I said, I don’t know how they get to that.”
“I’d love to know. I can’t work out. I think JJ [Tyreece Jules-John] was maybe a couple of minutes and he came off. Dom Thompson was down with his head, maybe one and a half, two minutes. I don’t know where he gets seven from. I don’t know.”
Last word to Chris Sutton who hits the nail on the head. The Sky Sports pundit said:
“For all the whinging about the seven minutes added on at Kilmarnock. Seven minutes was light in truth with the lengthy stoppages for Lyons and Thompson and all the subs… sour grapes springs to mind and jealousy…” Chris Sutton.
For all the whinging about the seven minutes added on at Kilmarnock. Seven minutes was light in truth with the lengthy stoppages for Lyons and Thompson and all the subs… sour grapes springs to mind and jealousy…
— Chris Sutton (@chris_sutton73) February 15, 2026
Conor Spence
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